I appeared before NAB for rule of law, says Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE (92 News) – Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he has appeared before the National Accountability Court (NAB) for the rule of law. Addressing a press conference after appearing before the NAB on Monday, he said that he remained in the NAB for one and a half hours. “They (NAB officials) put me three questions. The NAB notice was too much publicized, which was based on bad intention,” he said. The CM said that had he not wanted to visit the accountability court he would have written a reply on its basis. “If it is a crime to save nation’s money and stop corruption, he will continue to commit it,” he said. Shahbaz Sharif said that the plan is to stop the work by pressurizing him. He said the allegations levelled by the National Accountability Bureau against him are false. He also said the investigators had no answers to the questions he raised about the Bureau's role. "The issuing of summons was not a bona fide exercise." Shahbaz Sharif said the NAB should not speak like his political rivals, Imran Khan and Asif Zardari. He said he did not mind an impartial accountability apparatus. He asked the NAB chairman not to allow the Bureau to pander to the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf. He also reiterated his accusations of corruption against former president Asif Ali Zardari. Shahbaz Sharif said it was strange that the NAB was not investigating the PPP and PTI leaders who had a reputation for corruption. He said he would have been within his rights not to appear before the NAB team as long as he sent a written reply. He said he had gone nonetheless to show his regard for state institutions. The anti-corruption watchdog had issued a notice to Shahbaz Sharif, asking him to appear before a combined investigation team (CIT) on January 22 (Monday) in connection with an alleged graft in Ashiyana Housing Scheme.